Gospel pass routes

My nephew has recently got into cycling which is pretty darn cool. It’s road cycling, but as he was quite poorly and at one point unable to ride at all, the fact that he’s back on a bike is ace.

He’s based in Cheltenham / Gloucester  area and has suggested we might do a ride together. He’s suggested the Gospel Pass  as it’s the highest paved road in Wales, and fairly close to where he lives. My idea is that we do a long weekend close to his place, and take a day to go over to do the ride.

I’ve found a nice route from Hay on Wye (thanks to Drover Cycles who sound like an excellent shop), but that is a fair way from Gloucester, and it’s a fair old route considering we’ll be on a tandem. It’s not out of the question, but it’s at the top end of what we’d normally aim for.

Is that  good route? Is there something that’s better? We’d prefer to avoid main roads entirely in truth. Has anyone any suggested routes which might start a little closer to the Gloucester area? Or is it easier to just zip into Hay on Wye and start there?

Also, any recommended places to stay at the top end of the Forest of Dean? Means we can possibly visit other family in the are while we’re there.

Cheers in advance

How far do you want to ride?

Given that once you cross Gospel Pass you are in the Vale of Ewyas there is no road out other than the valley floor road to Cwmyoy, then down to Llanvihangel Crucorney, you are probably looking at a decent distance of 40-50 miles for any sort of circular route, I would have thought.

The route from Hay up the Gospel Pass is steeper and, in my opinion, harder than from the Capel-y-Fin side, where there are lots of false flats to get you a decent bit of elevation before the final steep climb.

I’ve ridden 50-60 mile loops from Abergavenny towards Hay, coming back past Craswall (i.e. doubling back SE on the descent from the top before you get to Hay), and also via the Golden Valley. Some of these are pretty lumpy rides.

If you wanted to start of near the Forest of Dean, Monmouth is do-able. You could do a circuit from there via Grosmont or Skenfrith but, again, its lumpy and the route would be in excess of 80 miles.

A suggestion might be to drive to Hay, head down the Golden Valley (for a warm-up) to Eywas Harold on a B road, then quiet lanes to Llanvihangel Crucorney, then back up the Vale of Eywas to Capel-y-Fin and tackling Gospel Pass. The final leg would be the descent to Hay. Its one of the best around and the views from top over Mid Wales and Herefordshire are brilliant. The road would spit you out at Drover Cycles, nice guys who had a café and fine bikes last time I looked.

https://www.strava.com/activities/584424048

This is quite a nice ride, but it is quite long and not too main roady.

https://www.strava.com/activities/147747919

Here’s my route. We start in Crickhowell and it’s mostly lanes. The descent down off the pass is SO MUCH FUN! Look out for sheep 🙂

Cheers Bonni – the Drover cycles route is 80k with 1200m of climbing – and that’s using a couple of main roads. Using the “back roads” detour might add another 10k or so, I reckon. We’ve done 80k with half that climbing, or that amount of climbing over a shorter distance (say 65k or so). Ideally something around 60 to 65k would be good, though our tandem fitness is improving. I’ll check out those suggestions on a map when I get chance later

Thanks MrMo, maybe a bit ambitious for us on the tandem, we’ve yet to do 100km never mind 200+ 😀

Thanks Wallop, that looks interesting, will check it out and see if I can download the GPX

Whichever route you choose you will go past the end of my drive 🙂

Quite often go up and over the pass, down over the grid and back to Craswell, Longtown, Pandy and back up the valley to home. Always surprises me just how long you need. Will take 2.5 – 3 hours. Drovers are a great shop and a good place to start, though coming from Glouscester you may be better off starting down in Llanvihangel and aim to stop at Drovers for coffee and cake before coming back either via Craswell or the Golden Valley, or west via Pengenfford and Crickhowell. With carefull route choice neither route would involve very much main road work though it is a bit harder to avoid some on the western side without a gravel bike at least.

Thanks Welshfarmer, we’re fine on the tandem with tracks like that (1.95″ tyres!) but Joe will be on his road bike so will have to think carefully. We’re expecting to be out for 4  or 5 hours though, not as quick as you

If you fancy heading out into the Cotswolds instead, I can deffo help you out with some routes that’ll be 90% quiet back lanes, and possibly a couple of pubs 🙂 . Depending when it is, I/we may even join you.

I wouldn’t mind some Cotswolds gpx files please 😉😁

nbt – let me if you can’t download the gpx and I’ll send it over.

If you wanted to start of near the Forest of Dean, Monmouth is do-able. You could do a circuit from there via Grosmont or Skenfrith but, again, its lumpy and the route would be in excess of 80 miles.

I sometimes do a loop from Monmouth going out via Rockfield, Newcastle, Cross Ash, Llanvihangel Crucorney then over the pass to Hay-on-Wye and back along the Golden Valley through Peterchurch to Ewyas Harold and then back to Monmouth via Grosmont and Skenfrith. About 86 miles and what you might call, erm, undulating.

(Which end of the valley are you Welshfarmer? Used to spend a lot of time in the Queens and the Abbey with the Bevans (farming family) from Stanton many years ago).

Haha, small world psling. I was out with Dave Bevan today 🙂  Usually see Tim at Xmas time and Adrian whenever I am at the cattle market.

We are up near the Abbey. so right in the middle of the valley. If you remember a big white stone sign on the side of the road that is us.

Welshfarmers suggestion trumps mine. Cake half-way always good.

Just to add, the roads on the south side of the pass are worn and have plenty of detritus fallen from the valley sides (and sheep’s arses). Ascending you can pick your route easily enough but descending at speed is a bit touch n go in places. On the other hand, Hay side the roads are smoother.

You are not wrong there bonni 🙂 I tried for a fast descent in the dark back in winter, was absolutely deadly with all the muck gravel water and ice on the road. But at least you don’t have to worry about traffic at that time of night! Funnily enough, the worst part of the road (from Capel to the old Youth Hostel) was properly resurfaced not that long ago. It is now almost a green lane in places!

Thread resurrection, apologies.

We’ll be camping this weekend near Ledbury, and I may be able to put together a 70miler-ish route that goes over Gospel Pass. Is it better North-south (i.e from Hay), or t’other way round?

And for the folks I’ve promised Cotswold routes too, I’ll do it, I promise, I’m just being distracted by, you know, stuff.

I’ve found several suggested routes and most of them start from Hay and head south over Gospel, then back up to the west. You can take in The Tumble as well if you go that way, it’s a bit further south than Wallops route, just outside Abergavenny

Ta,. good to know. I think trying to fit in The Tumble as well will make it too long (I want to keep it to 70 miles really), but I’ll see.

As mentioned above in my own and WelshFarmer’s posts, it’s easier to descend on the north side as the roads are better. On the south side, the road is pretty narrow, shrouded by trees (visibility poor) and has islands of grit, twigs, dung etc.. in the centre of the road. The road is narrow (single lane) with passing places. Whilst easily rideable with care, I would warn against going hell for leather..

Ah, okay, thanks. To be honest, I think going south/north might suit me better anyway, as I can stop off in Hay for just-past-halfway snacks and drink refill.

The other, not to under-estimate, “advantage” of South to North is the simply stunning way the vista opens up before you as you crest the pass. All the way up the valley you have been hemmed in by the steep valley sides and trees and hedges. As  you cross the cattle grid after the only real climb of any note, the trees disappear, but the hills get bigger and closer and more overbearing until, literally, as you pass through the gap at the highest point, it is as if the whole world is suddenly at your feet and the view goes on for ever (assuming good weather of course 🙂 ).

Enjoy the descent from here as it is a real cracker.

Intersting thanks folks

Nettles, I’ll find the route I was shown that included the Tumble, I don’t think it was lomger than 70 miles total